Portable, doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus and method of use

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to an exercising apparatus, and more particularly portable, doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus. The present invention comprises a doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus comprising an attachment system; a cross bar attachment element; expandable connectors comprising opposing attachment element; openings; and attachment element. The present invention also comprises a method of exercising comprising attaching the attachment system to the doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus and performing an exercise. The present invention allows for a variety of exercises to be performed and is an improvement on currently available doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/664,432 filed Jun. 26, 2012, titled “Portable,Doorframe-Mountable Exercise Device” and the subject matter thereof isincorporated herein by reference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to an exercising apparatus, andmore particularly portable, doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

People are always looking for new, effective ways to exercise in theirhome. Portability, cost, ease of use, and effectiveness are some of theconcerns people have with at-home exercise equipment.Doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses offer users an opportunity toperform work-outs out home in a small space. Current doorframe-mountableexercise apparatuses fall under two categories: chin-up/pull-up bars orapparatuses that offer a wider variety of exercises.

The present invention provides an inexpensive, portable, easy-to-use,and effective doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus. The presentinvention offers a wider range of exercises than prior artdoorframe-mountable exercises apparatuses.

Doorframe-mountable chin-up/pull-up bars are well-known in the priorart. Prior art doorframe chin-up bars are built around a sturdyhorizontal bar that sits on the top of the doorframe on the oppositeside of the doorway from where the person does the pull-ups/chin-ups.The handles used to pull up on protrude to the near side of the doorway.A crossbar on the near side of the doorway establishes leverage, so asthe user suspends his or her weight by the pull-up bar handles, the useris actually tugging the horizontal bar in the opposite doorway into amore solid position on top of the doorframe. Pat. No. 6,179,748,entitled “Chin-Up Bar,” provides for a non-permanent chin-up bar that isutilized in a doorframe.

Doorframe-mountable chin-up/pull-up bars are not ideal for all usersbecause many people cannot perform chin-ups/pull-ups. Additionally,other exercises are not able to be performed on doorframe-mountablechin-up/pull-up bars. As such, doorframe-mountable exercise apparatusesthat allow for a wider range of exercises have been developed.

The use of exercise apparatuses that offer a wider variety of exercisesis well-known in the prior art. More specifically, exercise apparatusesdevised for use in doorframes are well-known in the prior art. Pat. No.6,514,182 B1, entitled, “Doorframe Mountable Exercise System,” claims anexercise system that is mounted in the doorframe, whereby differenthandles and attachments are attached to the frame and cables and biasingmembers are used to adjust the resistance in the system. The mounting ofthe apparatus claimed in Pat. No. 6,514,182 B1 renders the apparatusstationary and not easily portable.

The present invention comprises a portable, doorframe-mountable exerciseapparatus that is an improvement on the doorframe-mountable exerciseapparatuses currently available by providing a portable,doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus that offers a wide variety ofexercises. Currently available doorframe-mountable exercise apparatusesare bulky and cumbersome. Therefore, they cannot easily be moved fromone location to another.

Pat. No. 5,468,205, entitled, “Portable Door Mounted ExerciseApparatus,” provides for a device that is mounted onto a door. Oncemounted, the user utilizes a pulleys and elastic bands for resistance toperform exercises. While providing for a wide variety of exercises to beperformed, chin-ups/pull-ups cannot be performed on the apparatus.

Pat. No. 5,072,934, entitled “Multiple Use Exercise Device,” providesfor a doorframe-mountable device that uses pulleys and counterweightsfor resistance. Chin-ups/pull-ups cannot be performed on the apparatus.Additionally, the use of counterweights greatly retracts from theportability of the apparatus.

There currently are no well-designed devices currently available thateasily allow for a wide variety of workouts to be conducted in a doorwaywithout being expensive, complex, or permanent. Currently availabledoorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses are either permanently affixedto the doorframe, or only allow for chin-ups/pull-ups to be performed.Thus, there is a need for an easy-to-use, portable, doorframe-mountableexercise apparatus that allows for a wide variety of exercises to beperformed.

It is increasingly critical that answers be found to the challengesarising from inadequate doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses.Additionally, the need to reduce costs, improve efficiencies andperformance, and meet competitive pressures adds an even greater urgencyto creating new doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses that meet theneeds of a diverse community of exercise enthusiasts.

Although the prior art field is littered with doorframe-mountableexercise apparatuses, the need for a portable and non-permanentdoorframe-mountable apparatus with multiple uses is still lacking.

The present invention is a portable, doorframe-mountable apparatus forexercising that is an improvement on currently availabledoorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses. The present invention providesfor a doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus that mounts easily andnon-permanently in a doorframe that allows for a wide variety ofexercises to be performed. The present invention utilizeschin-up/pull-up bars that are commonly known in the prior art.

An advantage of the apparatus of the present invention is that it isallows virtually any exercise to be performed using any muscle group.Additionally, it is noted that this apparatus can be very beneficial forindividuals in wheelchairs, whereby they can easily work out their upperbodies using the present invention. Another advantage of the presentinvention is that it is portable and no permanent installation isrequired.

Certain embodiments of the invention have other steps or elements inaddition to or in place of those mentioned above. The steps or elementwill become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of thefollowing detailed description when taken with reference to theaccompanying figures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuscomprising an attachment system; a cross bar attachment element;expandable connectors comprising opposing attachment element; openings;and attachment element. The present invention also comprises a spring.The present invention also comprises a bar. The present invention alsocomprises an opposing attachment element comprising a plate. The presentinvention also comprises an attachment element comprising a hook.

The present invention also comprises a method of exercising comprisingattaching the attachment system to the doorframe-mountable exerciseapparatus and performing an exercise. The present invention alsocomprises pulling down on a rope. The present invention also comprisespulling down on a bar. The present invention also comprises pulling downon an expandable element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment ofdoorframe-mountable exercise apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a close-up front view of attachment system of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a close-up side view of attachment system of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment ofdoorframe-mountable exercise apparatus of the present invention showingrope attachment;

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of an alternate embodiment ofdoorframe-mountable exercise apparatus of the present invention showingattachment section comprising an elastic element; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a user exercising using the firstembodiment of doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus of the presentinvention installed in a doorframe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the invention will be described herein.The following embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enablethose skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is to beunderstood that other embodiments would be evident based on the presentdisclosure, and that system, process, or mechanical changes may be madewithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the following description, numerous specific details are given toprovide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will beapparent that the invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. In order to avoid obscuring the present invention, somewell-known system configurations, and process steps are not disclosed indetail.

The figures illustrating embodiments of the system are semi-diagrammaticand not to scale and, particularly, some of the dimensions are for theclarity of presentation and are shown exaggerated in the drawingfigures.

The same numbers are used in all the drawing figures to relate to thesame elements. The embodiments have been numbered first embodiment,second embodiment, etc. as a matter of descriptive convenience and arenot intended to have any other significance or provide limitations forthe present invention.

For expository purposes, the term “horizontal” as used herein is definedas a plane parallel to the plane or surface of the doorframe-mountableexercise apparatus, regardless of its orientation. The term “vertical”refers to a direction perpendicular to the horizontal as just defined.Terms, such as “above”, “below”, “bottom”, “top”, “side” (as in“sidewall”), “higher”, “lower”, “upper”, “over”, and “under”, aredefined with respect to the horizontal plane, as shown in the figures.The term “on” means that there is direct contact among elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of thedoorframe-mountable exercise apparatus 100 of the present invention.When the doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus is positioned for use ina doorframe, horizontal bar 10 rests on the top of the doorframe on theopposite side of the doorway from where the person performing theexercises stands. Cross bar 12 rests against the near side of thedoorway frame and establishes leverage so that as the user suspends hisor her weight by the pull-up/chin-up bar handles or by performingpull-down exercises, the user is actually pulling the horizontal bar 10into a more solid position. The horizontal bar 10 and crossbar 12 arewell-known in the prior art. Horizontal bar 10 comprises crossbarattachment element 22. Crossbar attachment element 22 is disposed oncrossbar 12. Attachment element 26 is disposed on crossbar attachmentelement 22.

Expandable element 20 preferably comprises springs. Expandable element20 comprises attachment elements disposed on one end of the spring andon the other end of the spring. Attachment elements of expandableelement 20 are disposed in crossbar attachment openings 16 disposed onattachment element 26. Attachment elements of expandable element 20 aredisposed in attachment bar openings 18 disposed on opposing attachmentelement 28. In FIG. 1, attachment element 24 is shown disposed on handle14, but alternatively attachment element 24 is disposed on a pluralityof workout attachments.

In one embodiment of the present invention, opposing attachment element28 is disposed on expandable element 20 and attachment element 24disposed on opposing attachment element 28.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up front view of attachment system 120 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up side view of attachment system 120 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of thedoorframe-mountable exercise apparatus 100 of the present invention.Rope connector 34 is disposed on rope attachment element 36 and rope 30.Expandable element 20 is disposed in rope attachment openings 38.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 5 is a close-up view of attachment section 130 comprising elasticelement 32. Elastic element 32 is disposed in crossbar attachmentopenings 16 and attachment bar openings 18. This alternate embodiment ofthe present invention comprises a method of exercising that provides auser a plurality of tensions that provide for optimal workouts.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a user exercising using thefirst embodiment of doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus 100 of thepresent invention installed in a doorframe.

An improvement of the present invention is the variety of exercises thatare performed using the doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus 100. Aplurality of exercise devices, such as handles, ropes, bars, etc., isused with the present invention.

An improvement of the present invention is that the user choosesexpandable element 20 or elastic element 32 based on his or her level offitness. Springs or elastic bands of different tensions are used toincrease/decrease resistance.

An improvement of the present invention is that it is portable andinstalled/uninstalled in a doorframe in a matter of seconds. There is nopermanent installation required.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specificbest mode, it is to be understood that many alternatives, modifications,and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light ofthe foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace allsuch alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within thescope of the included claims. All matters previously set forth herein orshown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted in anillustrative and non-limiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuscomprising: an attachment system; a crossbar attachment element;expandable connectors comprising opposing attachment element; openings;and attachment element.
 2. The expandable connector of claim 1comprising a spring.
 3. The attachment element of claim 1 comprising abar.
 4. The opposing attachment element of claim 1 comprising a plate.5. The attachment element of claim 1 comprising a hook.
 6. A method ofexercising comprising: attaching the attachment system to thedoorframe-mountable exercise apparatus; and performing an exercise. 7.The method of exercising of claim 6 comprising pulling down on a rope.8. The method of exercising of claim 6 comprising pulling down on a bar.8. The method of exercising of claim 6 comprising pulling down on anexpandable element.